The 2019 Hyundai Sonata and the 2019 Hyundai Elantra; Which Sedan is the Best Fit for You?

While compact and
mid-size SUVs are making a major push to become the most popular vehicles on
the market, the four-door sedan is still driving the market forward. From
fuel-efficient compacts to luxurious full-size models, the sedan classes are highly
competitive, and are the flagship classes for many car makers.

While
Hyundai only offers two sedans, they are standouts in their classes. The
compact 2019 Hyundai Elantra is one of the most efficient non-hybrid vehicles
on the road, offering incredible economy whether you’re just running around
Bethlehem or hitting the highway down to Reading. The mid-size 2019 Hyundai
Sonata is mature, technologically advanced, and offers classic styling that can
turn heads. Both of them offer great value, combining plenty of features into
smartly-priced packages. So which of these two sedans is the right fit for
drivers across the Allentown and Hamburg region?

Does the Sonata or Elantra have More Interior Space?

Often,
compact sedans squeeze their footprint so much that the rear seats aren’t
really suited for the average adults. Not so in the 2019 Hyundai Elantra. With
37.3 inches of head room and 35.7 inches of leg room, it’s not as spacious as a
full-size sedan, but you also won’t hear any complaints when you have friends
and family sitting back there for trips around Hazleton.

In
fact, those measurements are nearly identical to the 2019 Hyundai Sonata, which
offers 38.0 inches of head room and 35.6 inches of leg room in the back seats.
However, the Sonata does provide more lateral space, with 56.5 inches of
shoulder room versus 55.3 inches in the rear of the Elantra. The rear seats are
also wider and more supportive, with 56.1 inches of hip room in the rear of the
Sonata versus 51.9 inches of hip room in the rear seat of the Elantra. If you
only ever need to drive four people around Hamburg, the difference is
negligible, but when you really need to fit five, the Sonata is the better
option.

In
an impressive feat, the engineers at Hyundai managed to get 14.4 cubic feet of
cargo space into the trunk of the Elantra, making it one of the most capable
cargo haulers in its class. Still, the larger footprint of the Sonata allows it
to fit more cargo, up to 16.3 cubic feet – that’s an extra suitcase or a few
extra bags of groceries.

Is the Sonata or Elantra a Smaller Sedan?

The
streets of Bethlehem and the parking garages of Reading can be tight at time,
especially if you get stuck trying to squeeze in between two SUVs when you’re
parking for a Reading Royals game or heading to the casino.

That’s
where the 2019 Hyundai Elantra really shines. Measuring in at 181.9 inches in
length and 70.9 inches in width, it is truly compact, and is a breeze to
maneuver and park in just about any situation. With a wheelbase of 106.3 inches
and a track of only 61.9 inches maximum, it’s easy to handle, and even novice
drivers will have no issue parallel parking in tight Allentown on-street spots.

We’re
not saying the 2019 Hyundai Sonata is massive. It’s only 9.2 inches longer, and
2.5 inches wider than the Elantra. Still, that can make a big difference when
you’re looking for parking in ever-shrinking spots.

Does the Sonata or Elantra have Better Performance Features?

No
one likes to be behind the slow driver in Allentown traffic. What’s even worse
is being that slow driver that’s holding everyone up.

Neither
the 2019 Hyundai Sonata or the 2019 Hyundai Elantra is slow off the line or in
traffic. The base 2.0-liter engine in the Elantra puts down 147 horsepower and
132 lb-ft of torque, plenty to get the lightweight sedan moving. It’s offered
with a six-speed manual transmission on the base model, while all others get a
six-speed automatic transmission. If that’s not enough power, the Sport trim
features a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that ups the output to 201 horsepower
and 195 lb-ft of torque, allowing you to leap off the line and get up to speed
in a blink of the eye. There’s also a third option, the turbocharged 1.4-liter
engine in the Eco trim. While it sacrifices some power to be economic, the 128
horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque is still plenty enough to keep pace with
normal traffic flow.

Bigger
and heavier, the Sonata naturally gets a bigger, more powerful engine. The base
2.4-liter powerplant creates 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, giving it
nearly the same power-to-weight ratio as the Elantra, and the same great
acceleration, thanks to the six-speed automatic transmission. Gearheads will
want the high-torque 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which offers 245 horsepower
and 260 lb-ft of torque for a pulse-pounding driving experience through the
hills and back roads of Hamburg, Hazleton, and the Lehigh Valley.

Does the Sonata or Elantra Get Better Gas Mileage?

One
of the main reasons many drivers consider compact sedans is the fuel savings
they provide – and boy, does the 2019 Hyundai Elantra have a lot to offer.

Even
at the base level, it’s highly economic. In the SE trim, it gets 29 MPG around
town and 38 MPG on the open road with the automatic transmission, while the
slightly-heavier SEL, Value, and Limited trims drop to 28 MPG city and 37 MPG
highway. While the Eco trim mentioned earlier may drop a bit in power, it makes
up for it in fuel savings, offering 32 MPG city and 40 MPG highway, making it
perfect for the Reading driver who needs to cut their monthly gas bill. The
thirsty turbocharged engine in the Sport trim still provides reasonable
economy, offering 22 MPG city and 30 MPG highway with the manual transmission,
or 26 MPG city and 33 MPG highway with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
transmission. Considering the power that comes with it, that’s still pretty
good.

That’s
not to say the 2019 Hyundai Sonata is unreasonable. In fact, with the 2.0-liter
engine rated at up to 26 MPG city and 35 MPG highway, it is one of the most efficient
mid-size sedans on the road. It’s just not as efficient as its little sibling.
Again, the available turbocharged powerplant is reasonable given the massive
power uptick, as fuel economy only drops to 23 MPG city and 32 MPG highway. You
really can’t go wrong with any version of either vehicle if fuel savings is
your goal.

Does the Sonata or Elantra have Better Convenience Features?

Befitting
the budget-minded price tag, the 2019 Hyundai Elantra doesn’t quite have all
the bells and whistles you can get in the 2019 Hyundai Sonata. For instance,
you can’t get ventilated front seats in the Elantra at all, but they are
standard on the Limited and Limited 2.0T trims of the Sonata. An Integrated
Memory System for driver’s seat and side mirrors is also standard on the top
trims of the Sonata, while only being offered as a cost-added option on the top
trim of the Elantra. Numerous trim accents, including woodgrain, metalgrain,
and 3D tech appearance accents are offered in the Sonata, while the Elantra
only offers a single interior appearance trim.

Tech
is also upgraded in the Sonata, with a 10-speaker Infinity premium audio system
with subwoofer and external amplifier topping out the audio range. In the
Elantra, the best available system is the Infinity Premium Audio system with
eight speakers and a subwoofer. The Sonata features Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay support across the range – it’s provided on almost every trim level of
the Elantra, although the SE trim is excluded.

What Supports and Services are Offered by Hyundai?

One
thing that is no different between the 2019 Hyundai Sonata and the 2019 Hyundai
Elantra is the support and service that drivers around Hazleton and Bethlehem
have come to expect from Hyundai. That means the same guarantees of 24-hour roadside
assistance for 5 years, new-vehicle warranties of 5 years or 60,000 miles and
powertrain warranties of 10 years or 100,000 miles for both models.

Both
the 2019 Hyundai Elantra and the 2019 Hyundai Sonata are smart, value-minded,
reliable sedans that are leaders in their respective classes. Even better than
comparing them on paper, come in to Freedom Hyundai in Hamburg and check out
both of these vehicles in person! We have the best selection of Elantra and
Sonata models in the Lehigh Valley and Berks County region, and we’re easy to
get to whether you’re coming from the Allentown and Bethlehem area, or up from
Reading. Swing in today and take them out for a test drive.